my week in objects (mostly):

Five little things that made my week:

1. this little favor.

(because I photographed my first wedding this past weekend and it was great to see so much joy and love in one place.)

2. this Mexican blanket.

30 things I am thankful for

Post-graduate life is similar, but also very different from life during undergrad. I now live 6+ hours from my hometown, and though I work and am getting my MBA from my undergraduate university, I have moved into my own apartment in a new town, have my own car, am studying in a new discipline and have two jobs.

I have gone through a lot of big changes in the past few months, and it has not always been easy or pleasant, but I have learned so much about myself, the real world and life in general. I have come to rely a lot on the experiences I have had. They have made me more independent, knowledgeable and worldly in a short period of time than I ever believed was possible.

I am in a stage of life between college and the big bad world, and through this, I have found just how much I rely on myself. I have learned to appreciate a lot of the little things in my busy life, so here are just a few things that I am thankful for in this season of gratitude:

1. Phone calls from long distance friends
2. Being able to afford my own apartment
3. Freshly brewed green tea in the morning 
4. Things that grow, like my thai basil plant
5. "Good mornings" from co-workers
6. The mountains that surround my town
7. Pinterest recipes 
8. A trusty radio station
9. Finding my faith again
10. My gas stove

Harpers Ferry, WV in the fall

Though I have lived in my university's town for 4.5 years, I never realized just how close the historical, gem of a town, of Harper(')s Ferry, WV was from me. It is actually just a short drive down the highway, and it really is a great little daytrip, especially in the fall when the air is crisp and the leaves are changing!

The first thing that you should know about Harpers Ferry is that the small town is actually located in the middle of Harpers Ferry National Park. There is usually a small fee to get into the National Park, but it is well worth it! There is no parking in the town, unless you happen to be one of the 300 residents, so you must plan on parking at the National Park's visitors' center. There is a shuttle service that runs pretty regularly to take you into town.

The shuttle drops you off right along the scenic Potomac River. Actually, Harpers Ferry was a coveted, strategic town during the American Civil War because it is where the Potomac and the Shenandoah River meet. It also is where three different states meet: Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.

my week in objects (mostly):

Five little things that made my week: 

1. these welcoming blooms. 

(because they just brighten up the kitchen so much.)

2. this lunchtime treat.

(because I love love love baguettes.)

Launching a University Snapchat Account: The Research

When I took a graduate assistant position at my university's office of communication, I knew that I would be working a lot with social media, as well as writing content for the website, taking photos and helping with various other projects... I never really thought that I would be the main social media person for my whole university!

Though my university is small (about 2,000 students), running all the social media accounts and keeping them updated on a day to day basis keeps me really busy! I never realized how much work it was to find, think up, create and post content that appeals to a wide audience, as well as keep up with my other work responsibilities. It has been a great learning experience. I regularly post on the university's official facebook, twitter and instagram accounts, and then we also post somewhat regularly on Tumblr, Flickr, and Pinterest.

When I began working over the summer, I thought it would be a good idea for my university to get a Snapchat account, since about 77% of college age students use Snapchat every day... which makes it a great tool for a university! It could appeal to both current students and prospective students, and help get the word out about events on campus as well as general campus life.

I began researching how other universities used their accounts. University of Michigan is usually a great place to start... I regard them as university social media gurus... especially since they have a whole social media team. 

my week in objects (mostly):

Erin Boyle's blog, reading my tea leaves is one of my favorites! She portrays the kind of life that I would like to lead: a little family, in a little apartment, living a sustainable life in the big city.

Anyways, Erin usually writes a "my week in objects" post that highlights some of the best little objects that have made an impact on her life that week. I have always liked the idea and look forward to the posts because they are simple but say a lot in regards to appreciating the little things in life...

So here are five little things that made my week:

1. these fall favorites.

 (because even though Halloween is over, they are still in season.)

2. this feline friend.

Motivation Monday: Light in the Darkness

Whenever I am going through a hard time or just need a little bit of wisdom or advice, I usually turn to great thinkers like my favorite authors or artists and of course, God. Literature, passages and quotes that relate to the situation I am in seem to give me some clarity. It is at least comforting to know that someone has felt the same as I am at some point in time.

Something that has really helped me through recent hard times has been being able to see the light in the darkness... even in the literal sense. Here's a quick anecdote:

It just so happens that my bedroom doesn't have windows, and though I thought that would bother me at the beginning of the summer when I had just moved in, it doesn't at all. After I close my door and turn off the lights at night, my bedroom is ultra dark. I never realized just how nice it was to sleep in almost total darkness, and I have noticed that it is comforting and calming.

My apartment building used to be an old schoolhouse, so it is complete with old radiators and old wooden doors with gorgeous knobs. Anyways, after some recent life changes, I started noticing the ray of light that shone through the keyhole of my bedroom door. It's like a nightlight that I never knew I needed, and it has really kept me settled and grounded for some reason. Whether you take it as "God closing a door...etc" or just as a guiding light and reminder to not give up, it has helped me. It reminds me to keep hope in so many metaphorical ways.

This tiny keyhole of light has reminded me that the dark times do have an ending, and that there is always some little sliver of hope in a world of darkness, and you can find it as long as you take the time to let your eyes adjust. I think everyone goes through dark times at some point, and could use a little wisdom now and then... so here are some quotes to help you to continue to look for the light in each day: